DOCSLIB.ORG

Basic Snare Drum Technique by Thom Hannum

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Basic Snare Drum Technique by Thom Hannum Basic Snare Drum Technique By Thom Hannum There are a number of effective methods for learning basic snare drum technique. So be open to suggestions and seek a teacher to help guide you through the fundamentals. Below are some guidelines to get you started. Have fun! Stand Assembly and Instrument Position 1. Spread the base of the stand far enough to create a stable platform. 2. Insert the top into the base of the stand. 3. Place the drum into the basket while avoiding contact with the snare strainer. 4. The drum should be at about waist level and slightly angled for your comfort. 5. Tighten all stand wing nuts. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Tuning and Stick Selection Now it’s time to tune the drum for the best possible sound. I recommend following the steps outlined in Tom Freer’s Pearl article, Basic Snare Drum Tuning, which can be found at Pearl’s website (www.pearldrum.com). Have your teacher help select snare sticks that work for you. Something equivalent to a 2B or a 5B usually works fine. The balance point is 1/3 of the way up from the butt end of the stick. Grip the stick near this point for the best response and bounce. Grip Guidelines and Posture Learning to hold the sticks properly is essential for improving technique. Use the photos as a guide and make sure to memorize the feel of the following guidelines: #1 Fulcrum (thumb and first two fingers), #2 Finger contact (comfortably wrap all fingers around the stick; not too tight), #3 Bead placement (as close together as possible for an even sound) and then striking area (center of the drum head), #4 Wrist motion (down position and up position). #1 Fulcrum #2 Finger Contact #3 Bead Placement #4 Down Position #4 Up Position Stand with your legs slightly separated and your arms resting comfortably by your side. The drum should be at waist level. Put your hands in the playing position with the sticks in the center of the drum head. Your shoulders, arms, and hands should remain relaxed. Stroke Motion, Rebounds, and Stick Heights • Make sure the bead of the stick goes straight up and down. Try your best to land in the same spot on the drumhead with each stroke. No slicing motions! • Relax your fingers, hands, and arms so the stick will bounce. • Change stick heights to help control dynamics. Here are the basic strokes you’ll need to learn one by one: Full Stroke Down Stroke Tap Stroke Up Stroke (start in up position) (start in up position) (start in down position) (start in down position) (end in up position) (end in down position) (end in down position) (end in up position) Now combine these strokes into one exercise. F-D-T-U See example #1 below. Multiple Bounce Play a down stroke and let the stick bounce freely as many times as possible. Practice this with the right and left hand. Now you have the basics to play a multiple bounce, or buzz roll. Flams A flam consists of an up stroke in one hand while playing a down stroke in the other. Play the upstroke just before the down stroke. See example #2 below. As you play make sure to review and maintain the grip guidelines. Right Flam Left Flam Play an up stroke in your left hand Play an up stroke in your right hand and a down stroke in your right hand and a down stroke in your left hand L R R L Single-double-triple beats Use full strokes and make sure your feel the natural rebound of the stick. Go slow at first. Then gradually speed up the tempo. See examples #3 - #5 below. Percussive Arts Society Rudiment Sheet Any good snare drummer has a knowledge of the 40 International Drum Rudiments. These patterns use all the basic strokes plus single, double, and triple beats and are a great way to improve stick control and expand your musical vocabulary for solos. Download a copy from the Pearl website and get practicing. Music Reading Reading music is very important for your development as a musician. See your teacher to supplement your practice with reading excerpts. I suggest looking at the Rhythmic Building Blocks segment of my article, Building Your Rhythmic Vocabulary, which is available on the Pearl website. Practice Tips Here s a few simple reminders for making your practice more effective: • Go slow at first, then gradually increase tempo. Stay relaxed. • Always review and maintain the grip guidelines and posture. • Practice dynamics. • Use a Pearl practice pad. • Play along to a recording of your favorite music. It develops your timing and makes it fun! THOM HANNUM Thom Hannum is regarded as one of the nation’s foremost percussion clinicians having presented numerous seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia. He is best known for his work with the DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and Star of Indiana. Thom is a member of the design team for Star of Indiana’s Tony Award Winning production entitled "BLAST!" Mr. Hannum has developed an outstanding percussion program at the University of Massachusetts where he serves as the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band. He is a product consultant and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and the Pearl Corporation. He is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society and the President of the Massachusetts PAS Chapter. Through the Hal Leonard Corporation, Mr. Hannum has published a Textbook and corresponding Student Workbook, Championship Concepts For Marching Percussion, which provide many band programs with a comprehensive foundation for percussion education. His instructional video produced by Warner Brothers/Chappell, Fundamental Techniques For Marching Percussion, demonstrates many of the concepts outlined in the books. Thom is the founder and director of his MOBILE PERCUSSION SEMINAR which offers clinic and workshop programs for high schools and colleges of all ability levels. For more information call 1-800-292- 3758 or visit the website at www.percussion.org. Thomas P. Hannum, Associate Director/Percussion Mobile Percussion Seminar UMass Minuteman Band, University of Massachusetts 126 Mt. Warner Rd. Amherst, MA 01003 Hadley, MA 01035 PHONE: 413-545-6060 FAX: 413-545-5631 PHONE: 413-549-8066 FAX: 413-549-2044 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB PAGE: http://www.percussion.org WEB PAGE: http://www.umass.edu/band Pearl Corporation 549 Metroplex Dr. Nashville TN 37211 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Percussionist's Guide to Check Patterns Section Leader Program
    350.00 The Mobile Percussion Seminar is designed to develop the A Percussionist’s Guide Tuition Only Balance Due COMMUTER mental and physical aspects of percussion performance and to Check Patterns leadership skills. Students will have a chance to work with Thom Hannum and his staff of specialists in the areas of From beginner to advanced marching percussion and mallet percussion. (PLEASE CHECK ONE) skill levels, Thom’s new book A Percussionist’s Guide to Thom Hannum, a Drum Corps International Hall of Fame Check Patterns, is designed member, is the Associate Band Director for the University of to help percussionists at Fee includes tee shirt and sticks / mallets Amount Enclosed Massachusetts Amherst Minuteman Marching Band and 550.00 any level perfect their craft. Sign up for our expanded SECTION LEADER TRACK Director of the Marimba Ensembles program. Thom is a RESIDENT worldv renowned percussion clinician and teacher and has Written for non-pitched percussion, Tuition/Room/Meals worked with the Cadets, the Star of Indiana and the Tony keyboard and drumset, the book provides a Award winning production Blast! Thom is currently the systematic approach to sticking rhythm patterns - ideal percussion arranger for Carolina Crown. for developing reading skills, coordination and syncopation control. The book is accompanied by a CD for rehearsal Features of the Seminar and individual practice and also includes a Vic Firth Check Patterns poster. M F • All battery percussion students will be assigned to a Students will work from both A Percussionist’s Guide to Sex group of their ability level Check Patterns and Thom’s other book, Championship ZIP ZIP • The Seminar offers a Leadership Training Track, Concepts for Marching Percussion, throughout the Seminar.
    [Show full text]
  • The Percussion Family 1 Table of Contents
    THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA WHAT IS AN ORCHESTRA? Student Learning Lab for The Percussion Family 1 Table of Contents PART 1: Let’s Meet the Percussion Family ...................... 3 PART 2: Let’s Listen to Nagoya Marimbas ...................... 6 PART 3: Music Learning Lab ................................................ 8 2 PART 1: Let’s Meet the Percussion Family An orchestra consists of musicians organized by instrument “family” groups. The four instrument families are: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Today we are going to explore the percussion family. Get your tapping fingers and toes ready! The percussion family includes all of the instruments that are “struck” in some way. We have no official records of when humans first used percussion instruments, but from ancient times, drums have been used for tribal dances and for communications of all kinds. Today, there are more instruments in the percussion family than in any other. They can be grouped into two types: 1. Percussion instruments that make just one pitch. These include: Snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, wood block, gong, maracas and castanets Triangle Castanets Tambourine Snare Drum Wood Block Gong Maracas Bass Drum Cymbals 3 2. Percussion instruments that play different pitches, even a melody. These include: Kettle drums (also called timpani), the xylophone (and marimba), orchestra bells, the celesta and the piano Piano Celesta Orchestra Bells Xylophone Kettle Drum How percussion instruments work There are several ways to get a percussion instrument to make a sound. You can strike some percussion instruments with a stick or mallet (snare drum, bass drum, kettle drum, triangle, xylophone); or with your hand (tambourine).
    [Show full text]
  • December 1992
    VOLUME 16, NUMBER 12 MASTERS OF THE FEATURES FREE UNIVERSE NICKO Avant-garde drummers Ed Blackwell, Rashied Ali, Andrew JEFF PORCARO: McBRAIN Cyrille, and Milford Graves have secured a place in music history A SPECIAL TRIBUTE Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain may by stretching the accepted role of When so respected and admired be cited as an early influence by drums and rhythm. Yet amongst a player as Jeff Porcaro passes metal drummers all over, but that the chaos, there's always been away prematurely, the doesn't mean he isn't as vital a play- great discipline and thought. music—and our lives—are never er as ever. In this exclusive interview, Learn how these free the same. In this tribute, friends find out how Nicko's drumming masters and admirers share their fond gears move, and what's tore down the walls. memories of Jeff, and up with Maiden's power- • by Bill Milkowski 32 remind us of his deep ful new album and tour. 28 contributions to our • by Teri Saccone art. 22 • by Robyn Flans THE PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY For thirty years the Percussive Arts Society has fostered credibility, exposure, and the exchange of ideas for percus- sionists of every stripe. In this special report, learn where the PAS has been, where it is, and where it's going. • by Rick Mattingly 36 MD TRIVIA CONTEST Win a Sonor Force 1000 drumkit—plus other great Sonor prizes! 68 COVER PHOTO BY MICHAEL BLOOM Education 58 ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC Back To The Dregs BY ROD MORGENSTEIN Equipment Departments 66 BASICS 42 PRODUCT The Teacher Fallacy News BY FRANK MAY CLOSE-UP 4 EDITOR'S New Sabian Products OVERVIEW BY RICK VAN HORN, 8 UPDATE 68 CONCEPTS ADAM BUDOFSKY, AND RICK MATTINGLY Tommy Campbell, Footwork: 6 READERS' Joel Maitoza of 24-7 Spyz, A Balancing Act 45 Yamaha Snare Drums Gary Husband, and the BY ANDREW BY RICK MATTINGLY PLATFORM Moody Blues' Gordon KOLLMORGEN Marshall, plus News 47 Cappella 12 ASK A PRO 90 TEACHERS' Celebrity Sticks BY ADAM BUDOFSKY 146 INDUSTRY FORUM AND WILLIAM F.
    [Show full text]
  • The Snare Drum Roll
    ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND DRAMA The Snare Drum Roll Lúcia Viana da Silva Independent Project (Degree Project), 30 HEC, Master of Fine Arts in Symphonic Orchestra Performance Spring Semester, 2017 Independent Project (Degree Project), 30 higher education credits Master of Fine Arts in Symphonic Orchestra Performance Academy of Music and Drama, University of Gothenburg Spring semester, 2017 Author: Lúcia Viana da Silva Title: The Snare Drum Roll Supervisor: PhD Maria Bania Examiner: PhD. Tilman Skowroneck ABSTRACT Key words: orchestral percussion, snare drum, technique, roll. Like most other percussion instruments, the snare drum was introduced relatively late in the symphonic orchestra, and major changes and improvements concerning its playing techniques are still taking place. One of the most distinctive aspects of the snare drum is the roll, which consists of a challenge that most percussionists face eventually during their career. This project reflects my research on the snare drum roll during the last two years, gives a short background of snare drum playing and its technical development, and provides observations and reflections of different techniques to play a roll. As a percussionist myself, I analyzed and practiced on the execution of rolls as part of the research. This project includes notes on my interpretation of four orchestral excerpts, showing how technical development and control over the roll open musical possibilities to the orchestral percussionist. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMTS I would first like to thank my supervisor, PhD Maria Bania, who was always available and responsive to my questions and supportive of my ideas. Her enthusiasm and constant demand gave me the drive and encouragement for writing this thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • The PAS Educators' Companion
    The PAS Educators’ Companion A Helpful Resource of the PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY EDUCATION COMMITTEE Volume VIII Fall 2020 PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY 1 EDUCATORS’ COMPANION THE PAS EDUCATORS’ COMPANION PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY EDUCATION COMMITTEE ARTICLE AUTHORS DAVE GERHART YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA ERIK FORST MESSIAH UNIVERSITY JOSHUA KNIGHT MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY MATHEW BLACK CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL MATT MOORE V.R. EATON HIGH SCHOOL MICHAEL HUESTIS PROSPER HIGH SCHOOL SCOTT BROWN DICKERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WALTON HIGH SCHOOL STEVE GRAVES LEXINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL JESSICA WILLIAMS ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY EMILY TANNERT PATTERSON CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS How to reach the Percussive Arts Society: VOICE 317.974.4488 FAX 317.974.4499 E-MAIL [email protected] WEB www.pas.org HOURS Monday–Friday, 9 A.M.–5 P.M. EST PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION OF THE SNARE DRUM FULCRUM 3 by Dr. Dave Gerhart CONSISTENCY MATTERS: Developing a Shared Vernacular for Beginning 6 Percussion and Wind Students in a Heterogeneous Classroom by Dr. Erik M. Forst PERFECT PART ASSIGNMENTS - ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE 10 by Dr. Joshua J. Knight TOOLS TO KEEP STUDENTS INTRIGUED AND MOTIVATED WHILE PRACTICING 15 FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS by Matthew Black BEGINNER MALLET READING: DEVELOPING A CURRICULUM THAT COVERS 17 THE BASES by Matt Moore ACCESSORIES 26 by Michael Huestis ISOLATING SKILL SETS, TECHNIQUES, AND CONCEPTS WITH 30 BEGINNING PERCUSSION by Scott Brown INCORPORATING PERCUSSION FUNDAMENTALS IN FULL BAND REHEARSAL 33 by Steve Graves YOUR YOUNG PERCUSSIONISTS CRAVE ATTENTION: Advice and Tips on 39 Instructing Young Percussionists by Jessica Williams TEN TIPS FOR FABULOUS SNARE DRUM FUNDAMENTALS 46 by Emily Tannert Patterson ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 49 2 PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY EDUCATORS’ COMPANION BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION OF THE SNARE DRUM FULCRUM by Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • PASIC 2010 Program
    201 PASIC November 10–13 • Indianapolis, IN PROGRAM PAS President’s Welcome 4 Special Thanks 6 Area Map and Restaurant Guide 8 Convention Center Map 10 Exhibitors by Name 12 Exhibit Hall Map 13 Exhibitors by Category 14 Exhibitor Company Descriptions 18 Artist Sponsors 34 Wednesday, November 10 Schedule of Events 42 Thursday, November 11 Schedule of Events 44 Friday, November 12 Schedule of Events 48 Saturday, November 13 Schedule of Events 52 Artists and Clinicians Bios 56 History of the Percussive Arts Society 90 PAS 2010 Awards 94 PASIC 2010 Advertisers 96 PAS President’s Welcome elcome 2010). On Friday (November 12, 2010) at Ten Drum Art Percussion Group from Wback to 1 P.M., Richard Cooke will lead a presen- Taiwan. This short presentation cer- Indianapolis tation on the acquisition and restora- emony provides us with an opportu- and our 35th tion of “Old Granddad,” Lou Harrison’s nity to honor and appreciate the hard Percussive unique gamelan that will include a short working people in our Society. Arts Society performance of this remarkable instru- This year’s PAS Hall of Fame recipi- International ment now on display in the plaza. Then, ents, Stanley Leonard, Walter Rosen- Convention! on Saturday (November 13, 2010) at berger and Jack DeJohnette will be We can now 1 P.M., PAS Historian James Strain will inducted on Friday evening at our Hall call Indy our home as we have dig into the PAS instrument collection of Fame Celebration. How exciting to settled nicely into our museum, office and showcase several rare and special add these great musicians to our very and convention space.
    [Show full text]
  • Study Guide for the High School Percussionist
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1965 Study guide for the high school percussionist Alan Anderson The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Anderson, Alan, "Study guide for the high school percussionist" (1965). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 3698. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/3698 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A STUDY GUIDE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL PERCUSSIONIST by ALAN J. ANDERSON B. M. Montana State University, 1957 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M aster of Music UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1965 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Exarqi rs D q^, Graduate School SEP 2 2 1965 D ate UMI Number: EP35326 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT UMI EP35326 Published by ProQuest LLC (2012). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC.
    [Show full text]
  • Áskell Másson's Solos for Snare Drum: Maximizing Musical Expression Through Varying Compositional Techniques and Experimenta
    ÁSKELL MÁSSON’S SOLOS FOR SNARE DRUM: MAXIMIZING MUSICAL EXPRESSION THROUGH VARYING COMPOSITIONAL TECHNIQUES AND EXPERIMENTATION IN TIMBRE John Michael O’Neal, B.M., M.M. Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS December 2015 Christopher Deane, Major Professor Eugene Corporon, Related Field Professor Mark Ford, Committee Member Benjamin Brand, Director of Graduate Studies, College of Music James Scott, Dean of the College of Music Costas Tsatsoulis, Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School O’Neal, John Micheal. Áskell Másson’s Solos for Snare Drum: Maximizing Musical Expression through Varying Compositional Techniques and Experimentation in Timbre. Doctor of Musical Arts (Performance), December 2015, 38 pp., 7 figures, 29 musical examples, references, 27 titles. This dissertation and accompanying lecture recital explores the musical elements present in Áskell Másson’s three solos for snare drum, PRÍM (1984), KÍM (2001) and B2B: Back to Basics (2010). Two of the primary challenges for the performer when playing solo literature on a non-pitch oriented instrument are identifying thematic structures and understanding how to interpret all innovative sound production techniques employed within the music. A thematic and compositional analysis, as well as an investigation into the experimentation of timbre found in Másson’s three pieces for solo snare drum will help to clarify the musical complexities that are present throughout. Copyright 2015 by John Michael O’Neal ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks and gratitude to my committee members and mentors Christopher Deane, Mark Ford and Eugene Corporon for their assistance with this project and their influence in shaping me as a teacher and performer.
    [Show full text]
  • African Drumming in Drum Circles by Robert J
    African Drumming in Drum Circles By Robert J. Damm Although there is a clear distinction between African drum ensembles that learn a repertoire of traditional dance rhythms of West Africa and a drum circle that plays primarily freestyle, in-the-moment music, there are times when it might be valuable to share African drumming concepts in a drum circle. In his 2011 Percussive Notes article “Interactive Drumming: Using the power of rhythm to unite and inspire,” Kalani defined drum circles, drum ensembles, and drum classes. Drum circles are “improvisational experiences, aimed at having fun in an inclusive setting. They don’t require of the participants any specific musical knowledge or skills, and the music is co-created in the moment. The main idea is that anyone is free to join and express himself or herself in any way that positively contributes to the music.” By contrast, drum classes are “a means to learn musical skills. The goal is to develop one’s drumming skills in order to enhance one’s enjoyment and appreciation of music. Students often start with classes and then move on to join ensembles, thereby further developing their skills.” Drum ensembles are “often organized around specific musical genres, such as contemporary or folkloric music of a specific culture” (Kalani, p. 72). Robert Damm: It may be beneficial for a drum circle facilitator to introduce elements of African music for the sake of enhancing the musical skills, cultural knowledge, and social experience of the participants. PERCUSSIVE NOTES 8 JULY 2017 PERCUSSIVE NOTES 9 JULY 2017 cknowledging these distinctions, it may be beneficial for a drum circle facilitator to introduce elements of African music (culturally specific rhythms, processes, and concepts) for the sake of enhancing the musi- cal skills, cultural knowledge, and social experience Aof the participants in a drum circle.
    [Show full text]
  • Basic Snare Drum Tuning
    Basic Snare Drum Tuning by Tom Freer Please follow these simple and basic instructions for tuning and adjusting your Pearl snare drum. In order for you to get and maintain the best possible sound out of your instrument, it will be important to save this sheet so that you can "tune up" the drum as the heads become broken in, and replace heads when necessary. YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING TOOLS TO PROCEED: 1. DRUM KEY 2. RULER STEP ONE: Loosen the top head completely. Place the drum on a flat surface and unscrew all the tension rods so that there is no tension on the top head. You don't need to take them out, just loosen them all the way. Next, begin to tighten down each rod just until they touch the counter hoop (or rim) WITHOUT PULLING IT DOWN. Just screw the tension rod down until it just touches. Go across the drum and do the same to the opposite tension rod and repeat, always working across the drum head in opposites, this keeps the head very even. When all the tension rods are seated and just touching the counter hoop, take your ruler and beginning with the tension rod directly beside the strainer, measure the distance from underneath the counter hoop to the top of the lug. Repeat this process with the lug directly across the drum and repeat until all measurements are the same. Remember we are not concerned with how tight the head is right now, just how even the tension is. Now that the head is evenly tensioned, bring the top head up to pitch.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Percussion Pedagogical Texts and a Percussion Primer Nathaniel Gworek University of Connecticut - Storrs, [email protected]
    University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn Doctoral Dissertations University of Connecticut Graduate School 4-7-2017 A Study of Percussion Pedagogical Texts and a Percussion Primer Nathaniel Gworek University of Connecticut - Storrs, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Gworek, Nathaniel, "A Study of Percussion Pedagogical Texts and a Percussion Primer" (2017). Doctoral Dissertations. 1388. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/1388 A Study of Percussion Pedagogical Texts and a Percussion Primer Nathaniel Richard Gworek, DMA University of Connecticut, 2017 My dissertation project is in two parts; the first part examines and evaluates percussion pedagogical literature from the past century, while the second is a percussion primer of my own authorship. The primer, which assumes a basic knowledge of standard musical notation, provide a structured system of teaching and learning percussion technique; it is supplemented with videos to utilize current technology as an educational resource. Many percussion method books have a narrow focus on only one instrument. There are few comprehensive resources that address the entire family of instruments, but they generally cater to a college level audience. My research focuses on the layout of the comprehensive resources while utilizing the narrow sources to inform my exercises. This research helped me find a middle ground, providing the technical development of the narrow focus resources while covering the breadth of topics in the comprehensive resources. This, in turn, help me develop an informationally inclusive yet concise resource for instructors and for students of all ages. My primer contain lessons on snare drum, timpani, and mallet percussion, and complementary instruments, such as bass drum, triangle, and cymbals.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis- Pedagogical Concepts for Marching Percussion
    PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS 1 Running head: PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS FOR MARCHING PERCUSSION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF MUSIC EDUCATION: STUDIO PEDAGOGY EMPHASIS THOMAS JOHN FORD UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT MAY, 2019 PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS 2 Abstract This document serves as a guide for recent music education graduates who are put in the position of having to teach marching percussion to students who have joined the marching band, specifically in the drumline. To have a well-rounded understanding of the drumline, teachers will need to know the instruments of the drumline, and the associated sticks and mallets. This document also discusses pedagogical concepts for all of the instruments, including playing techniques required to achieve a balanced sound throughout the ensemble, and how to properly care for marching percussion equipment. Keywords: marching percussion, drumline, battery, snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, crash cymbals PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS 3 Table of Contents Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 5 List of Figures 8 Introduction 9 Chapter I: Marching Percussion Equipment 12 Snare Drums 12 Tenor Drums 14 Bass Drums 16 Crash Cymbals 17 Other Equipment 18 Chapter II: Pedagogical Concepts for Marching Percussion 21 Posture 21 Playing Positions 21 Grips and General Playing Techniques 25 Stroke Types and Dynamics 31 The Exercise and Technical Development Program 32 Timing Strategies 37 Chapter III: Marching Percussion Care and Maintenance 39 Changing and Replacing Heads 39 Repairing Broken and Loose Drum Equipment 40 Cymbal Straps 42 Cleaning and Storing Equipment 43 PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS 4 Conclusion 45 References 46 Appendix A 49 PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are so many people who I want and am obligated to thank for helping me in this whole process of graduate school and writing my thesis.
    [Show full text]